Promoting the landscape and biodiversity values of Australia's Green Cauldron
Links to other websites and various Caldera Wildscapes pages are in blue text
Links to other websites and various Caldera Wildscapes pages are in blue text
Panorama and Caldera Gallery - Back in the Building
The Caldera Wildscapes Gallery and Green Cauldron Panorama are back in the Rainforest Centre building in Budd Park, South Murwillumbah, along with the Murwillumbah Visitor Information Centre. With facilitation by Council, this building has had significant upgrades since the 2017 flood event with the Panorama now having its own purpose built 'showroom' and the Wildscapes gallery once again complementing the ambience of the riverside setting for visitors and residents.
The Caldera Wildscapes Gallery and Green Cauldron Panorama are back in the Rainforest Centre building in Budd Park, South Murwillumbah, along with the Murwillumbah Visitor Information Centre. With facilitation by Council, this building has had significant upgrades since the 2017 flood event with the Panorama now having its own purpose built 'showroom' and the Wildscapes gallery once again complementing the ambience of the riverside setting for visitors and residents.
Visitors and Tweed residents are now encouraged to visit the Rainforest Centre building especially now that an excellent collaboration has been established between Council, Tweed Tourism, the Green Cauldron Panorama, and Caldera Wildscapes Gallery.
Open 9am - 4pm Mon. - Fri. & 9am - 1pm Sat. & Sun. (entry is subject to current COVID-19 NSW govt. protocols).
Open 9am - 4pm Mon. - Fri. & 9am - 1pm Sat. & Sun. (entry is subject to current COVID-19 NSW govt. protocols).
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A visitor recently showed us this historic postcard of the 'Tourist Centre' from about 1974, complete with expansive lawns and tidy flower beds.
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The Caldera Wildscapes Gallery promotes the biodiversity and landscape values of the Tweed region with regular exhibitions by local artists as well as permanent artworks such as Tweed Shield Volcano interpretive paintings. This facility now complements the Tweed Regional Museum's Land Life Culture display of the region's remarkable natural and social history and Treasures of the Tweed mural painting. School and tour groups are encouraged to make arrangements with the Murwillumbah Visitors Information Centre for a talk by principal Green Cauldron Panorama artist Andy Reimanis.
Rainforest Centre - Tree Species Survey
With major landscaping changes after the 2017 flood event, a number of rainforest tree species growing around the Rainforest Centre were removed in order to gain access for the building redevelopment. This has left the tree species list, and map compiled in 2016, in need of an update. Fortunately, the Murwillumbah Community College Certificate III Horticulture class (led by tutor Susan Hennessy) have made this into a project whereby students will gain experience with identifying rainforest tree species. The updated list will be available early in the new year and Caldera Wildscapes will label the actual trees to provide an 'interpreted rainforest walk' around the Centre for visitors and residents.
With major landscaping changes after the 2017 flood event, a number of rainforest tree species growing around the Rainforest Centre were removed in order to gain access for the building redevelopment. This has left the tree species list, and map compiled in 2016, in need of an update. Fortunately, the Murwillumbah Community College Certificate III Horticulture class (led by tutor Susan Hennessy) have made this into a project whereby students will gain experience with identifying rainforest tree species. The updated list will be available early in the new year and Caldera Wildscapes will label the actual trees to provide an 'interpreted rainforest walk' around the Centre for visitors and residents.
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Students and tutors of the MCC Horticulture certificate course 2021
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2016 survey participants incl. Council staff and Caldera Art
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Coolamon in Full Flower
The large Coolamon tree (also called Durobby or Rose Apple) Syzygium moorei located near the front of the Rainforest Centre is currently in flower although the Rainbow Lorikeets are doing their best to create a carpet of pink at the base of the tree. Officially the floral emblem of the Tweed Shire, the Coolamon is unusual in that flowers emerge from woody trunks and branches rather than from new growth of foliage tips. This phenomenon is known as 'cauliflory' and occurs in only a few rainforest tree species.
The large Coolamon tree (also called Durobby or Rose Apple) Syzygium moorei located near the front of the Rainforest Centre is currently in flower although the Rainbow Lorikeets are doing their best to create a carpet of pink at the base of the tree. Officially the floral emblem of the Tweed Shire, the Coolamon is unusual in that flowers emerge from woody trunks and branches rather than from new growth of foliage tips. This phenomenon is known as 'cauliflory' and occurs in only a few rainforest tree species.
Pastel painting by Katherine Latter: Coolamon & Lorikeet
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New Frog Species Discovered
A new frog species has recently been discovered by researchers from University of Newcastle and the S.A. Museum in Wollumbin National Park. It has been named Assa wollumbin in consultation with Aboriginal Elders of the Wollumbin Consultative Group. The frog's population is confined to the park, part of the Gondwana Rainforests World Heritage Area. This remarkable species is one of only two known species that store their tadpoles on their bodies (the other being the 'hip-pocket' or pouched frog Assa darlingtoni). The closure of the summit track may have provided this tiny species (measuring just 16mm) with a much needed foothold. The Tweed's World Heritage listed rainforests are a extremely important to the survival of small frogs such as Assa Wollumbin especially since many frogs were impacted by the 2019/20 bushfires. Read full press release Residents interested in obtaining more info on frogs are encouraged to visit www.frogid.net.au With the summit track indefinitely closed, the virtual view from the top of Wollumbin Mt Warning may be experienced with the Green Cauldron Panorama. |
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Koala Matters - and Koalas Matter
A number of news articles and press releases have appeared over the last 2 or 3 months focusing on the status of the Tweed's endangered Koala population. In summary:
Survey of the Tweed Coast’s koala population:
A fourth survey Council has been undertaken since 2010. About 75 sites on the Tweed Coast between Kingscliff and Wooyung are surveyed every three years. Good levels of koala activity in the Pottsville Wetlands have been found along with a number of sightings of females and joeys around Pottsville and Bogangar. These surveys also indicate whether actions in the Tweed Coast Koala Plan of Management are achieving the aim of stabilising and recovering the population. Full results of the survey will be announced later this year.
Concerns for Banora Pt/Terranora koalas:
Koalas are appearing in places which have limited habitat and unsafe locations such as suburban backyards and isolated trees. Terranora is currently a recue hotspot for Friends of the Koala. This increase appears to coincide with land clearing for housing developments. Saving our Koalas is keen to hear from private landowners about planting koala food and habitat trees in the area.
A number of news articles and press releases have appeared over the last 2 or 3 months focusing on the status of the Tweed's endangered Koala population. In summary:
Survey of the Tweed Coast’s koala population:
A fourth survey Council has been undertaken since 2010. About 75 sites on the Tweed Coast between Kingscliff and Wooyung are surveyed every three years. Good levels of koala activity in the Pottsville Wetlands have been found along with a number of sightings of females and joeys around Pottsville and Bogangar. These surveys also indicate whether actions in the Tweed Coast Koala Plan of Management are achieving the aim of stabilising and recovering the population. Full results of the survey will be announced later this year.
Concerns for Banora Pt/Terranora koalas:
Koalas are appearing in places which have limited habitat and unsafe locations such as suburban backyards and isolated trees. Terranora is currently a recue hotspot for Friends of the Koala. This increase appears to coincide with land clearing for housing developments. Saving our Koalas is keen to hear from private landowners about planting koala food and habitat trees in the area.
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Koala paintings by Caldera Wildscape artists Christine Ovenell (left) and Sheila Miller (above)
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Improving the habitat for koalas at Bilambil:
Ongoing tree planting on Beltana Drive community land as well as private property is the start of a bigger koala corridor project to plant specific koala food trees. This area has a significant and important population of breeding koalas with numerous existing old forest habitat trees.
Council is urging local residents to grab their binoculars and get a close look at the Beltana koalas and report any health issues to Friends of the Koala.
Tweed Coast Koala Research Hub 'Highly Commended' in Local Govt Environment Awards:
Tweed Shire Council and Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, with the support of the NSW State Government and WWF, designed and constructed the Tweed Coast Koala Research Hub on Council-owned land at Pottsville. This facility provides high-quality accommodation for koalas participating in research trials for a chlamydia vaccination. This project was selected as one of 35 finalists across 14 award categories statewide in the Natural Environment Protection and Enhancement On-ground Works category.
Concern over NSW koala protection policy Koala SEPP21
The state govt. policy, which commenced in March this year, removed existing protections for Koalas in the Tweed Valley hinterland. 82% of the Shire is now left unprotected due to the State Environmental Planning Policy known as the Koala SEPP 21 which contains exclusions for rural and forestry zoned land. Only 18% of the Tweed Shire is currently covered by the Tweed Coast Koala Plan of Management since the State govt. has only allowed coastal habitat to be protected.
Ongoing tree planting on Beltana Drive community land as well as private property is the start of a bigger koala corridor project to plant specific koala food trees. This area has a significant and important population of breeding koalas with numerous existing old forest habitat trees.
Council is urging local residents to grab their binoculars and get a close look at the Beltana koalas and report any health issues to Friends of the Koala.
Tweed Coast Koala Research Hub 'Highly Commended' in Local Govt Environment Awards:
Tweed Shire Council and Currumbin Wildlife Hospital, with the support of the NSW State Government and WWF, designed and constructed the Tweed Coast Koala Research Hub on Council-owned land at Pottsville. This facility provides high-quality accommodation for koalas participating in research trials for a chlamydia vaccination. This project was selected as one of 35 finalists across 14 award categories statewide in the Natural Environment Protection and Enhancement On-ground Works category.
Concern over NSW koala protection policy Koala SEPP21
The state govt. policy, which commenced in March this year, removed existing protections for Koalas in the Tweed Valley hinterland. 82% of the Shire is now left unprotected due to the State Environmental Planning Policy known as the Koala SEPP 21 which contains exclusions for rural and forestry zoned land. Only 18% of the Tweed Shire is currently covered by the Tweed Coast Koala Plan of Management since the State govt. has only allowed coastal habitat to be protected.
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Caldera Artist of the Month
Leesa Livermore has been part of the Caldera Wildscapes group for almost 2 years and her passion for the region's plants and landscapes is reflected her spectacular artworks currently on display in the CW Gallery. Having never previously painted 'seriously', her bold interpretation of flora and local landscapes will soon become highly collectable since Leesa aspires to become a full-time artist. She has also produced a series of cards depicting some of her paintings completed to date. They are available at the CW Gallery. Contact Leesa Also currently on exhibition in the CW Gallery are beautiful framed prints by renowned Tweed based artist Katherine Castle. Katherine's artworks are in collections world-wide and prints of these paintings are worthy of appreciation. |
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Paintings by Leesa Livermore: Condong Sugar Mill and Palm Tree Study
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The Art of Crossing the Border
A commissioned artwork recently completed by Andy Reimanis was given 'a police escort' across the 'cattle grid' at the Qld/NSW border, Numinbah Gap. The client, a Brisbane resident, commissioned Andy to paint a scene of the Hinze Dam some time ago and was overjoyed to take delivery of it at the border crossing. The Queensland constabulary who were on COVID-19 border protection duty were so impressed with the quality and scale of the artwork that they willingly facilitated secure passage of the precious goods.
A commissioned artwork recently completed by Andy Reimanis was given 'a police escort' across the 'cattle grid' at the Qld/NSW border, Numinbah Gap. The client, a Brisbane resident, commissioned Andy to paint a scene of the Hinze Dam some time ago and was overjoyed to take delivery of it at the border crossing. The Queensland constabulary who were on COVID-19 border protection duty were so impressed with the quality and scale of the artwork that they willingly facilitated secure passage of the precious goods.
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Landscape of the Month
One of the Tweed Valley's many spectacular landforms recently became embroiled in controversy. Mt Doughboy was once an active magma vent within the Tweed Shield Volcano. It is located at Doon Doon on the southern edge of the Shire near the Nightcap National Park. Now a rhyolite (a type of granite) plug, this abrupt peak seems to have dominated an image portrayed on a new postage stamp entitled Wollumbin Mount Warning (which is visible only in the distance). Link to story by The Echo Far right: Doughboy painting by Caldera Artist |
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Speaking of 'Plugs'
Being December, the Murwillumbah Information Centre has extended the range of locally sourced products in their gift shop section just in time for 'you know what'. Similarly, the adjoining Caldera Wildscapes Gallery may have that locally created artwork that appeals to you. Unique to the gallery are 'Season's Greetings from the Tweed' cards featuring beautiful artworks relevant to the area... and, very affordable small original watercolour paintings.
Being December, the Murwillumbah Information Centre has extended the range of locally sourced products in their gift shop section just in time for 'you know what'. Similarly, the adjoining Caldera Wildscapes Gallery may have that locally created artwork that appeals to you. Unique to the gallery are 'Season's Greetings from the Tweed' cards featuring beautiful artworks relevant to the area... and, very affordable small original watercolour paintings.
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Now that the Caldera Wildscapes Gallery is back, a regular newsletter will be published (usually monthly) promoting the artists and their splendid artworks showcasing our magnificent natural environment as well as other interesting snippets of news.
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Enquiries are welcome from local artists interested in exhibiting their work or participating in workshops.
Please email [email protected] or phone 0499 009 888 |